Meghan Trainor — Feminist Icon Or Fifties Fluff?


Megan Trainor’s song “All About The Bass” has been heralded the world over by women as a feminist song encouraging positive body image over the current trend for stick thin models. Now, Music Mic is questioning just how much damage this song is doing to the “female empowerment” movement. So, is Meghan’s song really that supportive to women and what they want? Let’s look at a couple of lines that people are now starting to take offense at.

“‘Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase.”

This line isn’t so bad, is it? Not until you think about what Meghan Trainor is saying here. If she really is promoting the fact women should be happy with their size, what does it matter what the boys think? The next line is more blatant than the first.

“She says, boys they like a little more booty to hold at night.”

In this line Meghan Trainor is referring to what her mother used to say to her. Once again, it is enforcing the fact that how you look — and your ultimate happiness — depends entirely on what men think of your body. Which, if you look at it from another viewpoint, means, once more, women are always trying to please others — men, women, their mothers — rather than themselves.

Of course, there is another Meghan Trainor song that caused even more of a stir, but not because it was attempting to address body image, but because it took a rather sexist approach to how a man should treat a woman these days. The Trainor song in question is “Dear Future Husband.” This song is an ode to how men should treat their wives but, unfortunately, comes off sounding a little like reverse feminism. Here’s a couple of sections of Meghan Trainor’s “Dear Future Husband” to set the tone

“Take me on a date / I deserve it, babe / And don’t forget the flowers every anniversary / ‘Cause if you’ll treat me right / I’ll be the perfect wife.”

Seems okay, doesn’t it. It’s nice to remind people how women like to be treated, isn’t it? Except Meghan Trainor doesn’t once mention she will return the favor and treat her potential partner in the same way. It seems if you want her affection, it is a one way street.

“If you wanna get that special lovin’ / Tell me I’m beautiful each and every night / After every fight /Just apologize.”

Heidi Stevens from the Chicago Tribune straight out says this Meghan Trainor song is “framing sex as a reward.” She then goes on to explain why she thinks in 2015 women should be having sex for enjoyment rather than something they should get around to once their partner has upheld their end of the “Dear Future Husband” bargain. Which begs the question, have we come full circle in the sexism debate and have women swung too far the other way in regards to equality? After all, Meghan Trainor’s attitude through her songs sounds more like a fifties sitcom than reality and one of the things that originally caused women to create the feminist movement.

What do you think? Is Meghan Trainor’s songs just pop fluff or is the message she is instilling in young girls dangerous? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

[Image credit: Meghan Trainor website]

Share this article: Meghan Trainor — Feminist Icon Or Fifties Fluff?
More from Inquisitr